Turning Point needle-exchange project launched in Scotland

Turning Point needle exchange project is a joint venture between Glasgow Addiction Services and the Glasgow Crisis Center. It aims to persuade people from using steroid injections. It promotes proper nutrition coupled with exercise regime to achieve a healthy, fit and muscular body. The Steroid Drop-in clinic provides health education packages to its clients containing dietary and training regimes as well as the risks involved with steroid injections. However, for those who are having trouble with stopping injections, the clinic also provides a package containing free information on proper and safe procedures and even includes a single-use needle.

A growing number of people are at a greater risk of contracting Hepatitis A and B and other blood-borne viruses by sharing or re-using needles. This is also one aim of the Steroid Drop-in clinic, to minimize its growing incidence.

According to Gus Cunningham, a powerlifter and a sports science graduate, as well as the manager of the clinic, they want to provide information to all their clients on how to maintain a bulky physique for the rest of their lives without depending too much on steroids. He still promotes exercise, proper nutrition and water intake as the best way to achieve it.

According to The Scotsman:

A GROUNDBREAKING clinic for steroid users has convinced about 30 per cent of people accessing its services to stop injecting.

The Steroid Drop-In Clinic, the only one of its kind in Scotland, opened in February for a six-month pilot as part of the Turning Point needle-exchange project in West Street, Glasgow.